The Indian government is considering a major change to the way children access social media. During a hearing in the Supreme Court, the Centre indicated that it is considering amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules that could prevent people below the age of 18 from creating accounts on social media platforms.

The proposal comes amid growing concerns about children's safety online, including cyberbullying, exploitation, inappropriate content and misuse of personal information.

What is the government planning?

The Centre told the Supreme Court that it is considering a system under which social media intermediaries would have to prevent children under 18 from opening accounts.

The proposal was discussed during the hearing of a petition filed by the Just Rights for Children Alliance, which has raised concerns about the risks faced by children on digital platforms.

If the rules are eventually amended, social media companies could have a legal obligation to verify a user's age and stop those below the prescribed age from registering.

Why is the government considering this move?

Children spend an increasing amount of time on social media, making online safety a growing concern. The petition before the court highlighted risks such as online grooming, cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, trafficking, behavioural profiling and exposure to inappropriate content.

Another concern is the collection and use of children's personal information by digital platforms.

The proposed changes are intended to provide a stronger legal framework for protecting minors rather than relying only on platform-specific policies.

Educational websites could be treated differently

The proposed restrictions may not apply in the same way to educational platforms.

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta indicated that children could potentially access educational websites with parental consent. This suggests that the proposed restrictions are primarily aimed at social media platforms rather than online education services.

Platforms may need to change their technology

One of the important aspects of the discussion is that simply having a rule may not be enough. Social media platforms may need to modify their systems so that they can identify users who fall below the permitted age.

This could lead to greater use of age-verification technologies during account registration. How such systems would protect children's privacy while accurately establishing age is likely to become an important part of the debate.

What happens if the rules are changed?

If the Centre formally amends the IT Rules, social media companies operating in India could be required to follow the new age-related restrictions.

However, the proposal is still part of an ongoing legal and policy process. The final framework, including how age verification would work and whether there would be exceptions, will depend on the government's proposed amendments and further proceedings before the Supreme Court.

A major change for India's digital landscape

If implemented, the proposal could significantly change how young people use social media in India. It could strengthen online protections for children, but it could also raise questions about privacy, age verification, parental consent and how platforms would enforce the rules.

For now, the key point is that an under-18 social media account ban is being considered, not that such a nationwide restriction has already come into force.